Ventable, microwave-safe food package

Abstract

A package and a method for storing, venting, and heating consumable goods. The package includes a container defining an interior and a valve for venting gas during storage and heating. The container having sufficient stability to withstand heating conditions including microwave energy, vapor pressure, and a temperature of 150° Celsius. The valve has a well-defined, substantially constant flow resistance at vapor pressures and at a temperature of at least 150° Celsius developed in the interior during heating. Consumable goods are disposed in the interior of the container and comprise of at least two different fresh, raw foods that require different cooking times in water, and said consumable goods having an amount of water content of at least 30% by weight.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A microwave-safe package for storing and heating consumable goods in a microwave oven, comprising: 
       a microwave-safe container defining an interior, said container having sufficient stability to withstand heating conditions including microwave energy, vapor pressures of up to 3 bar, and a temperature of 150° Celsius;  
       a one-way microwave-safe valve for venting gas from the interior, said valve capable of venting excess pressure during storage and during heating to prevent package rupture or damage, wherein said valve has a well-defined flow resistance and a dimensionally stable valve gate at vapor pressures of up to 3 bar and at temperatures of up to 150° Celsius developed in the interior during heating;  
       said one-way valve configured to enable the vapor pressure which builds up in the package during microwave heating to escape comparatively slower from the package into the ambient atmosphere primarily due to the flow resistance of said valve such that a vapor banking situation develops inside the package such that the temperature rises above 100° Celsius and the pressure increases above ambient such that the cooking of the consumable goods occurs quickly and gently; and  
       consumable goods disposed in the interior of the container, said consumable goods comprising of at least two different fresh, raw foods that require different cooking times in water, and said consumable goods having an amount of water content of at least 30% by weight.  
     
     
       2. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein storage includes transportation and sale portions of time. 
     
     
       3. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises a rigid valve body and a membrane secured to the rigid valve body. 
     
     
       4. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable goods are heated by vapor pressure and by absorption of radiation by water contained in the consumable goods. 
     
     
       5. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a bag. 
     
     
       6. The package according to  claim 5 , wherein the bag has a flat bottom portion. 
     
     
       7. The package according to  claim 5 , wherein the bag has a synthetic foil. 
     
     
       8. The package according to  claim 7 , wherein the synthetic foil comprises a nylon or polyester layer with a thickness of at least approximately 12 micrometers laminated to a polypropylene layer with a thickness of at least approximately 150 micrometers. 
     
     
       9. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises: 
       a dish; and  
       a cover foil extending over the dish.  
     
     
       10. The package according to  claim 9 , wherein the dish has a circular rim and the cover foil is welded to the circular rim of the dish along a circular jig seam. 
     
     
       11. The package according to  claim 9 , wherein the cover foil includes a laminate comprising a relatively thinner layer of polyester laminated to a relatively thicker layer of polypropylene. 
     
     
       12. The package according to  claim 11 , wherein the layer of polyester has a thickness of approximately 12 micrometers and the layer of polypropylene has a thickness of approximately 75 micrometers. 
     
     
       13. The package according to  claim 9 , wherein the dish comprises a thin-walled polypropylene material. 
     
     
       14. The package according to  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the thin-walled polypropylene material is between 500 micrometers and 1000 micrometers. 
     
     
       15. The package according to  claim 9 , wherein the dish has an elastic memory. 
     
     
       16. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the fresh, raw foods comprise raw meat and raw vegetables. 
     
     
       17. The package according to  claim 16 , wherein the raw meat comprises chicken. 
     
     
       18. The package according to claims  16 , wherein the raw meat comprises fish. 
     
     
       19. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the fresh, raw foods comprise zucchini and carrots. 
     
     
       20. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable goods comprise the sole source of water in the package. 
     
     
       21. The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable goods are packaged with flavoring and do not require additional ingredients or water. 
     
     
       22. A microwave-safe package for storing and heating consumable goods in a microwave oven, comprising: 
       a microwave-safe container defining an interior, said container having sufficient stability to withstand heating conditions-including microwave energy, vapor pressures of up to 3 bar, and a temperature of 150° Celsius;  
       a one-way microwave-safe valve for venting gas from the interior, said valve venting excess gas when the pressure of the interior exceeds a first threshold pressure and said valve closing when the pressure of the interior is less than a second threshold pressure;  
       said valve venting gas produced during beating to prevent package rupture or damage when the pressure of the interior exceeds a first threshold pressure, wherein said valve has a well-defined flow resistance and a dimensionally stable valve gate at vapor pressures of up to 3 bar and at temperatures of up to 150° Celsius developed in the interior during heating;  
       said one-way valve configured to enable the vapor pressure which builds up in the package during microwave heating to escape comparatively slower from the package into the ambient atmosphere primarily due to the flow resistance of said valve such that a vapor banking situation develops inside the package such that the temperature rises above 100° Celsius and the pressure increases above ambient such that the cooking of the consumable goods occurs quickly and gently; and  
       consumable goods disposed in the interior of the container, said consumable goods comprising of at least two different fresh, raw foods that require different cooking times in water, and said consumable goods having an amount of water content of at least 30% by weight.  
     
     
       23. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein said microwave-safe valve for venting gas from the interior vents excess gas produced during storage, which includes transportation and sale portions of time. 
     
     
       24. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the first threshold pressure is less than 10 mb. 
     
     
       25. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the first threshold pressure is less than 5 mb. 
     
     
       26. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the second threshold pressure is less than approximately 0.5 mb. 
     
     
       27. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein said valve comprises a rigid valve body and a membrane secured to the rigid valve body. 
     
     
       28. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the consumable goods are heated by vapor pressure and by absorption of radiation by water contained in the consumable goods. 
     
     
       29. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the container includes a bag. 
     
     
       30. The package according to  claim 29 , wherein the bag has a flat bottom portion. 
     
     
       31. The package according to  claim 29 , wherein the bag has a synthetic foil. 
     
     
       32. The package according to  claim 31 , wherein the synthetic foil comprises a nylon or polyester layer with a thickness of at least approximately 12 micrometers laminated to a polypropylene layer with a thickness of at least approximately 150 micrometers. 
     
     
       33. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the container comprises: 
       a dish; and  
       a cover foil extending over the dish.  
     
     
       34. The package according to  claim 33 , wherein the dish has a circular rim and the cover foil is welded to the circular rim of the dish along a circular jig seam. 
     
     
       35. The package according to  claim 33 , wherein the cover foil includes a laminate comprising a relatively thinner layer of polyester laminated to a relatively thicker layer of polypropylene. 
     
     
       36. The package according to  claim 35 , wherein the layer of polyester has a thickness of approximately 12 micrometers and the layer of polypropylene has a thickness of approximately 75 micrometers. 
     
     
       37. The package according to  claim 33 , wherein the dish comprises a thin-walled polypropylene material. 
     
     
       38. The package according to  claim 37 , wherein the thickness of the thin-walled polypropylene material is between 500 micrometers and 1000 micrometers. 
     
     
       39. The package according to  claim 33 , wherein the dish has an elastic memory. 
     
     
       40. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the fresh, raw foods comprise raw meat and raw vegetables. 
     
     
       41. The package according to  claim 40 , wherein the raw meat comprises chicken. 
     
     
       42. The package according to  claim 40 , wherein the raw meat comprises fish. 
     
     
       43. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the fresh, raw foods comprise zucchini and carrots. 
     
     
       44. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the consumable goods comprise the sole source of water in the package. 
     
     
       45. The package according to  claim 22 , wherein the consumable goods are packaged with flavoring and do not require additional ingredients or water. 
     
     
       46. A microwave-safe package for storing and heating consumable goods in a microwave oven, comprising: 
       a microwave-safe container defining an interior, said container having sufficient stability to withstand heating conditions including microwave energy, vapor pressures of up to 3 bar, and a temperature of 150° Celsius;  
       a one-way microwave-safe valve having a rigid valve body and a membrane secured to the rigid valve body for venting gas from the interior, said valve venting excess gas produced during heating to prevent package rupture or damage, wherein said valve has a well-defined flow resistance and a dimensionally stable valve gate at vapor pressures of up to 3 bar and at temperatures of up to 150° Celsius developed in the interior during heating;  
       said one-way valve configured to enable the vapor pressure which builds up in the package during microwave heating to escape comparatively slower from the package into the ambient atmosphere primarily due to the flow resistance of said valve such that a vapor banking situation develops inside the package such that the temperature rises above 100° Celsius and the pressure increases above ambient such that the cooking of the consumable goods occurs quickly and gently; and  
       consumable goods disposed in the interior of the container, said consumable goods comprising of at least two different fresh, raw foods that require different cooking times in water, said consumable goods having an amount of water content of at least 30% by weight, wherein said consumable goods comprise the sole source of water in the package.  
     
     
       47. The package according to  claim 46 , wherein storage includes transportation and sale portions of time. 
     
     
       48. The package according to  claim 46 , wherein the consumable goods are heated by vapor pressure and by absorption of radiation by water contained in the consumable goods. 
     
     
       49. The package according to  claim 46 , wherein the fresh, raw foods comprise raw meat and raw vegetables.